Deterrence of ignition of a vehicle engine when a fuel nozzle is in a fuel intake area

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are disclosed for deterrence of ignition of a vehicle engine ignition when a fuel nozzle is in a fuel intake area. An example vehicle includes a fuel intake area, a camera, and a processor. The example processor, in response to an ignition switch being in an on-position, is to detect, via the camera, whether a fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area. The example processor is to deter ignition of a vehicle engine when the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle comprising:
 a fuel intake area; 
 a camera; and 
 a processor to:
 in response to an ignition switch being in an on-position, detect, via the camera, whether a fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area; and 
 deter ignition of a vehicle engine when the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is to enable motor ignition when the fuel nozzle is absent from the fuel intake area. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the camera that detects whether the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area is located on a side-view mirror. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the camera monitors blind spots when the vehicle is moving. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further including a global positioning system receiver that enables the processor to determine when the vehicle is at a fueling station for a fueling event. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further including a sensor to detect when a fueling event is occurring. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a seatbelt switch, a door-ajar switch, a weight sensor of a vehicle seat, and a fuel level sensor. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further including a nozzle detection switch to further detect when the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle detection switch is at least one of a proximity switch and a magnetic switch positioned in the fuel intake area. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein, to deter ignition of the vehicle engine, the processor is to at least one of provide an alarm via an infotainment head unit and disable ignition of the vehicle engine via an emergency override. 
     
     
       11. A method to deter movement of a vehicle with a fuel nozzle, the method comprising:
 in response to an ignition switch being in an on-position, detecting, via a vehicle camera, whether a fuel nozzle is in a fuel intake area of the vehicle; and 
 deterring, via a processor, ignition of an engine when the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further including monitoring the ignition switch to determine when the ignition switch is in the on-position. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further including enabling ignition of the engine when the fuel nozzle is absent from the fuel intake area. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further including determining, via a global positioning system receiver, when the vehicle is at a fueling station for a fueling event. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further including detecting, via a sensor, when a fueling event is occurring. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fueling event is detected via at least one of a seatbelt switch, a door-ajar switch, a weight sensor of a vehicle seat, and a fuel level sensor. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein further detecting whether the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area via at least one of a proximity switch and a magnetic switch in the fuel intake area. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein deterring ignition of the vehicle engine includes at least one of providing an alarm via an infotainment head unit and disabling ignition of the vehicle engine via an emergency override. 
     
     
       19. A tangible computer storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:
 in response to an ignition switch being in an on-position, detect, via a vehicle camera, whether a fuel nozzle is in a fuel intake area of a vehicle; and 
 deter, via a processor, ignition of an engine when the fuel nozzle is in the fuel intake area. 
 
     
     
       20. The tangible computer storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to enable ignition of the engine when the fuel nozzle is absent from the fuel intake area.